Safety device for elevators.



No. 784,410. PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905. B. L. MATER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.21,1904.

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NITED STATES Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER L. lVlATER, OF DOlVAGrlAO, l\ll(Jl-llGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,410, dated March 7, 1905.

Application filed November 21, 1904. Serial No. 233,717.

To (1/71 II']l/()l)I/ it nuty concern..-

Be it known that I, ELMER L. MATER, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Dowagiac, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety devices for elevators.

The objects of the invention are toimprove and simplify the construction of such devices; furthermore,to increase their efliciency in operation.

\Vith the foregoing and other minor objects in view,which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an elevator equipped with the improvement-s of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the eccentric levers and su 'iporting means therefor.

Like reference-numerals indicate corre sponding parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumerals 1 and 2 indicate tracks, such as are usually employed in connection with elevatorshafts, and 3 indicates an elevator, which may be of anysuitable form and construction. At-

tached to the upper portion of the elevator 3 is a plate, such as to which are secured upwardly-inclined supporting-arms 5, arranged, 'n'eferably, in pairs. Pivotally mounted between the outer ends of each pair of supporting-arms 5 is a lever, such as 6, having an cecentric outer end 7 and an elongated inner end 8. Attached to the inner ends of the levers 5 is an elevator-rope or flexible element 9. Located beneath the inner ends of the levers 6 is an ordinary form of electromagnet 10, which is connected, by means of the wires 11, with the arms 5. The tracks 1 and 2 are in electrical circuit by means of wires 12 with any suitable form of battery 13.

Constructed as above described the operation of the improved device is as follows: As soon as the rope or flexible element 9 breaks the inner ends 8 of the levers 6 descend, thus throwing the eccentric portions 7 of said levers into frictional contact with the tracks 1 and 2. The momentum of the elevator causes said eccentric ends of the levers to become securely jammed against the tracks, thus stopping the elevator. Furthermore,the moment that the eccentric portions 7 of the levers contact with the tracks I and 2 an electrical circ'uit is formed through the wires 12, tracks 1 and 2, eccentric portions 7, supporting-arms 5, and electromagnet 10, the function of said circuit being to energize the magnet 10 and cause it to attract the inner ends of the lovers 8, thus causing an increase in the jamming action of the eccentric portions 7 against the tracks land 2. It will be apparent, therefore, that three important forces combine to increase the efficiency of the improved device of this invention in arrestingthe accidental descent of an elevator lirst, the tendency of the elongated inner ends of the levers 6 to descend by gravity and throw the shoes or eccentric portions 7 against the tracks 1 and 2; second, the momentum of the car, which as soon as the shoes or eccentric portions 7 contact with the track causes them to become jammed, and,-third, the action of the magnet 10.

Changes in the precise embodiment of invention illustrated and described may bemade within the scope of the following claims with out departing from the spiritof the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. The combination with an elevator and a track therefor, of a lever on said elevator adapted to contact with said track, a flexible element connected with said lever for hoisting the elevator and maintaining said lever normally out of contact with said track, and an electromagnct adapted to attract said lever as soon it moves into contact with said track.

2. The combination with an elevator and a track therefor, of supporting-arms on said elevator, levers pivoted on said supportingarms and having eccentric outer portions and elongated inner portions, a flexible element connected with the elongated inner portions of the levers descend by gravity and throw of said levers for hoisting the elevator and the eccentric portions thereof into contact maintaining the eccentric portions of said lewith the track. vers out of contact with said track, an electro- In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in 5 nrliagnet zadapted when ener%izled to attlract the presence of two witnesses.

e ongate inner enc s of sai evers, e ectrica 7 connections between said electromagnet and ELMER MATER' eccentric portions of said levers, and a batl \Vitnesses: tery in circuit with said track, whereby, when JOHN G. MnRsoN,

l ADOLPII B. MAsoN.

IO the flexible element breaks the elongated ends 

